Drivers from across the globe are preparing to capture glory at the Indy 500, and there’s one twenty-something we’re delighted to cheer for as things get underway.

England native turned Indy resident Pippa Mann is pursuing her second 500 run this month. The 29-year-old announced an entry with Dale Coyne racing a few weeks ago, joining fellow drivers Justin Wilson (UK) and Ana Beatriz (Brazil). Mann’s history at the track is already historic, with her 2011 debut making her the eighth female to qualify for the race and the first British woman to compete. Not too shabby.

But before the fast cars and success, Mann was just a little girl in England watching Formula 1 racing with her dad.

“I grew up a race fan in a non-racing family,” she said.

At age 12, a birthday party introduced her to go carts at a small indoor track, an event that fueled a passion.

“That was it,” she said. “My dad started taking me to a kids club at the go cart track.”

As she flourished it was suggested she try racing go carts outside, inspiring her and her dad to research more about outdoor races and cart ownership. They found a listing for a cart meeting in the local papers, and her she received her first go cart for her thirteenth birthday. Her entry into the racing world was full of learning-as-she-went experiences, but she and her dad eventually learned the ropes.

Even in those early years, Mann still didn’t necessarily know racing would be her future. Her mom thought she would be a lawyer. “I thought I would end up doing something outdoors, or nannying,” she said.

Instead, she left home at 17 for Italy, where she began racing carts professionally. “I had always been fairly unconventional,” she said. “When it clicked, it just clicked.”

In Italy she raced and tested carts while learning Italian and working in a pizzaria. After three years she made a transition from carts to open wheel cars, returning to England where she progressed through Formula Renault 2.0 series races, successfully making it to the Formula Renault 3.5 Championship and racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup.

In 2009 Mann was approached by Panther Racing to join their Indy Lights team. Her visit to the US to meet the team was her first time on a American soil. A move to Indianapolis didn’t phase her following her previous move to Italy, a country that presented a language barrier.

“It didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me,” she said. “I sort of knew what to expect.”

Indy Car racing, though, was a new terrain. Growing up there wasn’t much information about the series in England. But she did have one role model from the field: Sarah Fisher, who she had learned about from a racing magazine her father once brought home.

“Sarah was a huge inspiration to me. I had never heard of a female doing that well in an open wheel car in that big of a series,” she said.

While she had learned a little bit through following Fisher’s career, there was still a lot she didn’t know. “My major education happened probably after I moved to Indy,” she explained.

Photo Credit: Ali Markus

But learning curves have never seemed to phase her. She settled in, claiming top ten qualifying spots and, in her second year in the Firestone Indy Lights series, won a race, becoming one of only two female drivers to ever do so.

In 2011 she got a test with Conquest Racing for the IZOD IndyCar series. Owner Eric Bachelart took her to Texas Motor Speedway–one of the most the most difficult tracks–for the test. When Mann saw he added another car to his team for the Indy 500, she knew it was meant for her.

“The race itself was just an incredible experience,” she said, even though a series of car mishaps and a non-existent preparation period left her nervous as race day approached. But Mann approached the challenges with her typical flair, taking them on head first with the help of the mechanical team who worked non-stop on her car to get her through rookie orientation and pole day. Despite the troubles, she landed her spot in the race, but her lack of experience still left her nervous.

“We suddenly discovered we had a rookie driver who didn’t even know all the buttons on the steering wheel,” she said. But nerves quickly subsided. “Once we got strapped in and we got started on the formation laps, I was okay.”

Mann was the only rookie to qualify that year. She finished in a respectable 20th place despite complications with her water hydration system.

Photo Credit: Ali Markus

Mann continued to race throughout 2011, but adversity struck in October of that year when she sustained injuries to her hand in a serious crash. The event led to physical therapy and concern from teams about her ability to get behind the wheel.

While Mann faced disappointment in her inability to enter the 2012 Indy 500, she decided to not let negativity settle in.

“I’m trying to take every opportunity that comes my way with a smile,” she said. One of them has included work as an announcer and analyst for Indy Car radio. She also got a chance to stand in for a TV analyst.

“It’s a lot of fun. It keeps me at the race track,” she explained.

She’s also gotten involved with Glass Hammer racing, an organization that helps educate girls ages 10-16 about racing by getting them into go carts in a “safe, constructive environment.”

The cause is close to Mann’s heart, seeing it as an opportunity to help answer the questions and support a resource she wished she would have had as a girl. She started attending their tweet-ups and eventually became an official contact for girls. She has also helped instruct.

Mann lights up when talking about the girls who are launching racing careers from the organization, with members starting to race in various capacities. The opportunity to help make a difference in their successes has been “really, really cool.”

But when Mann isn’t working on her racing and announcing career or helping future drivers, she’s enjoying her new found home in the Indianapolis community.

“It’s just really nice to feel like you fit in somewhere,” she said. She loves the strength of the racing community here, making her feel like her career isn’t a novelty. She also loves the easy access to entertainment, especially bands and concerts, something she didn’t have in England. Like most other Indy young professionals, her down time is typically spent with friends, at concerts, or reading. She also spends time catching up on sports, and in doing so she’s adopted an important Indy resident trait: “I have become a Colts fan,” she said.

It’s not hard to root for Mann as she preps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month. But no matter the outcome, her passion, optimism and outgoing personality (check out her active Twitter feed as a testament) will play a role in leading her down many successful paths. Indy, though, seems it will remain a constant no matter what lies ahead.

“This is home to me,” she said.

This was one of those weeks where I felt like there were a lot of obvious stories- fall upfronts, giving us tons of previews to pour over, including Michael J. Fox’s family time, Joshua Lymann dating a younger blonde that isn’t me and Rebel Wilson half naked, we found out that Seth Myers will be taking over Jimmy Fallon’s spot on Late Night and we got to ask ourselves important questions like; “Do we? Do we think we can dance?” followed by “Do we even care that we’ve met the Mother that Ted should have Met 4 seasons ago?”

But these? These are all far too easy of points and as you’ve come to expect from me, I like to take the road less traveled.

Enjoy!

1) That One With The Pot Smoking Hairstylist and Boy Band Moves.

So apparently the guy who cut Jennifer Aniston’s hair, that created the famous “Rachel” haircut that was worn by every woman with a TV in the 90′s, did it while high. I’m not sure why he thinks anyone cares, if we’re being honest. But he’s decided to share this after 14 years of sobriety. Just in case you wondered.

In other, “we’re just sharing stuff well after the fact” news, dancer/choreographer/male model Wade Robson, came out this week saying that, as a child, he had been molested by Michael Jackson. You know, when Robson was Michael’s dancing protege several decades ago. Okay, look- Child Molestation? Not funny. Darrin’s Today Show Exclusive interview? Uncomfortably funny. Robson wouldn’t stop talking about how he had to share now because it’s “his truth” and the Today Show staff made squirmy segment transitions to bus jumping deer videos and cited Twitter feedback as an appropriate reaction to this revelation. Awkward.

2) Families Are Hiring Wheelchair Bound Kids to Skip Disney Lines

Look- I’m not saying it’s RIGHT, but…

Have you ever been to Disney with someone in a wheelchair? It. Is. Awesome. Suddenly you are VIP- skipping ahead in lines, getting special escorts, etc. And while it would be wrong and unfair to all the other people who have waited so patiently in line to hire your own cripple…

I think this sounds amazing and I secretly support the concept far more than I should. THERE I SAID IT- I’m actually a little jealous. DEAL WITH IT.

3) Your Heart is True, You’re a Pal and a Confidant. Also… Nice Knockers. 

Artist John Currin painted a portrait of, sex symbol for the blind and deaf, Bea Arthur. And in it, she’s topless. 

Now, you have to know that Bea didn’t actually sit for the painting and if you squint, there is some sort of feminist sex symbol message, I guess. People are saying that the artist is reclaiming women’s sexuality- introducing women, not traditionally thought of as sexy, as a sex symbol.

But mostly, ultimately, this is weird. Unless your secret fantasy is to see Dorothy topless. WELL THEN, if you’re into that sort of thing- Mazel.

4) Let’s Witness a Meltdown Together.

You know how some shows have a really strong social media presence, either by design or by cult following? The Voice. Walking Dead. Mad Men. Pretty Little Liars, which I absolutely don’t watch…. Anyway, people live tweet, they follow along, they share comments, feedback, punchlines in a fun and nurturing environment.

Now pretend none of that happened. Instead, imagine super irritated viewers and a reality show contestant who thinks she can “teach them” in the worst way imaginable. Think of this, not just as “how NOT to do social media,” but how not to do anything in life, featuring the Fox reality show I wasn’t squealing about, Kitchen Nightmares.

First, watch the clip below.

Now, BuzzFeed has been nice enough to document the social media breakdown that occurred by the owners, featured on the Kitchen Nightmares episode, for us. My favorite is below.

5) NOT. A. SPOILER. (You’re Welcome.)

I just can’t do this, without  making a point to recap Thursday night TV.

Thursday night: SCANDAL.

HOLY DAMN HELL BATMAN.

Also- THE OFFICE SERIES FINALE. Sniffle sniffle. Tear Tear.

Haven’t seen them? Catch up on your DVR ASAP. Because I may have made this spoiler free but not everyone will.

This week, Parks and Rec was renewed for another season (not the porn version from last week, you pervs), it was announced Neil Patrick Harris is slated to once again host the Tony’s (Broadway: Not just for gays but definitely for Doogie Howser) and together, we discovered that this woman loves troll dolls waaaaaay too much (I may not sleep for days).

But, since you were out enjoying all Indianapolis in May has to offer, I’m here to catch you up on what you missed. Behold, this week in pop culture:

1) Beyonce Art History. 

The most brilliant idea- thanks to Huffington Post Intern, @leigh_silver can be found on Tumblr. Beyonce Art History makes me giggle more, EVERY. DAY.

Need I say more?

2) I am NACHO FRIEND.

This week, everyone in my office, contact list and apartment was subjected to this video because, well, if I marry someone with any creativity, they may very well be able to make a similar video of me. Because you know when not-so-good corny jokes are HYSTERICAL? After a bottle of wine.

Now- please watch it and try not to immediately want to share it with someone else.

3) This Week in Collegiate Sports… 

• Akron petitioned the NCAA to have their team Twitter handle posted on the back of the jersey.  The NCAA said no. Undeterred, Akron put their Twitter handle on the back of their pre-game, shooting jerseys. Take that NCAA rules.
• In 41 states? The highest paid state employee is a coach. 27 Football Coaches. 13 Basketball Coaches. 1 Hockey Coach. See it here.
• Minority of any sort? Maaaaybe stay as far away from Columbia as much as possible. Stuff is getting ALLLLL sorts of racist, homophobic, icky up in here.

4) There may be a stylist conspiracy…

Earlier this week, the who’s who of the starry world showed up for the Met Gala, dressed in clothes to go along with the “punk” theme. While there were more than a few lovely celebrities (Jennifer Lawrence, anyone?), there was also some absolute tragedy that manifested itself (Cough. Kim Kardashian. Cough.)

Which begs the question- where are the stylists? And did they really think couch-glove looked good? Or were they bitter and tired and thinking “You all don’t pay me neeeeaaaaarly enough for this shit.” Because seriously- I get that this event was artsy, I get that we were going for a statement, but doesn’t good sense dictate that if your Grandma’s couch was at one point upolstered in a similar fabric, it’s probably a fashion-no?

5) What A Super Classy Ex-Husband Sounds Like

Former 98 Degree-er and sometimes talk show host, Nick Lachey was interviewed this week and, as interviews always go with someone whose star of success wasn’t all that bright to begin with, he was asked about his former love, who is still sort-of famous.

Lachey, or Prince Charming as I’ll be calling him for the rest of the day, shared this gem, when asked what the best thing about no longer having Joe Simpson (Jessica’s dad-ager) as a father-in-law:

“I don’t have to play grab ass under the table on Easter Sunday.”

Hold up.

Now you get to play grab ass on the table, in the middle of your not-so-famous new wife‘s family dinners?

You only grab ass under the table, on days other than Easter Sunday?

Joe was making you play grab ass with his daughter?

Who the hell uses the phrase “grab ass” anymore?

It’s a real toss up for me, what is more scaring- the further details of Teen Mom Farrah Abraham’s porno/sextape/romp around a pole, or this.

Anyway…

Have a great weekend y’all- Happy May!

The best part of basil (aside from the aroma) is its versatility – it has the ability to add a little something extra to dishes that cover everything from simple to savory to sweet. For instance:

Insalata caprese. This is by far my favorite salad variety. Caprese salad can’t get much simpler – sliced fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella and seasoned with salt and olive oil or a light balsamic vinaigrette. And I like simple, because it’s easy to recreate. (Tip: Not feeling the fresh mozzarella? Go with mozzarella string cheese. It slices up easily and offers a similar flavor).

Pasta. It’s an obvious go-to for good Italian flavor (and since most jarred pasta sauces list basil as an ingredient anyway), but nothing brightens up a plate of penne with marinara quite like thin shreds of basil. Roll a few basil leaves together and slice lengthwise to get perfect strips.

Cocktails. If you’re like me, you enjoy drinking dessert as much as eating it. I recently had the seasonal strawberry basil martini at Indy’s Seasons 52 and knew it was something I would want to recreate. To make it taste best, buy strawberry- infused vodka (or make your own). Add it to a shaker with muddled basil, shake well and strain seeds if needed. It looks (and tastes) best in a martini glass with a giant basil leaf as garnish.

So as the Broad Ripple Farmers Market (Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon) and the Original City Market (Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) return for the warmer months, grab some basil (and some of everything else while you’re at it). And if you like it on pizza, I recommend the B.O.T. pie at Bazbeaux, located on Massachusetts Avenue or in Broad Ripple. I mean, if you’re in the area already…

Note: Basil’s bright green color makes it too pretty to leave in the refrigerator – wrap a wet paper towel around the roots to keep it from drying out, and put it in a vase or pot in your kitchen with decent light. Change the paper towel daily to keep it from wilting too quickly.

When I began this week, started collecting tidbits of pop culture, I didn’t intend for there to be any over arching theme. Yet, as I began writing, I realized there was something very… freaky happening. Lots of bizaree, half-naked, sexually charged, uncomfortable news this week. And that’s not my fault- I don’t make this stuff up, I just call it to your attention.

Anyway- Enjoy. Fingers crossed you’ve had enough time to move past your most beautiful person/most hated person Gwyneth Paltrow rage, re-fired by last night’s midnight premiere of Iron Man 3. If not, do not hesitate to reference this guide of ways to move past your anger, then read my lovely recap at a more applicable time.

1) The Correspodents Dinner. Nerdprom and Some Racism.

On Saturday, the White House once again hosted The White House Correspondent’s Dinner, also known as #NerdProm by all the oh-so-insidery Washington tweeters. Conan O’Brien was the host and, as much as I want to like him, I just found the whole thing a bit… odd.

The worst of the night:

“As I look around the room and see all the media here tonight, I realize this is just one big high school cafeteria. That’s all it is. Think about it. Fox is the jocks, MSNBC is the nerds. NPR is the table for kids with peanut allergies. Al Jazeera is the weird foreign exchange student nobody talks to.”

Oh I get it… It’s funny because you’re brown and no one like you.

2) Only Thing Less Sexy Than Jeopardy? Sexy Potpourri on Jeopardy.

On Monday night, one of the brilliant minds of Jeopardy decided that “The Sexiest Potpourri Ever” would be an optimal category name. It featured weird porno jazz music, odd lead in lines and Alec Trebek talking in the creepiest voice ever. Just watch.

Then, in a transition that only makes sense in my head:

If you watched the above clip and thought, “Wow- I feel as though I should rate Alec’s abilities, as a host and maybe a lover, since that bizarre scene makes me feel like I can speak to that,” then do I have good news for you. The newly launched Eccie.net is like Yelp for hookers, a concept I find both practical and unsettling. Much like The Sexiest Potpourri Ever. FULL CIRCLE.

One note: DO NOT google Sexy Potpourri when trying to discover scenes from the Jeopardy episode. It takes a whole weird turn, I for one, did not see coming….

3) Parks and Rec…. Porno Addition.

You know how sometimes when you’re tuning into Parks and Rec on a Thursday night and you find yourself thinking… What would make this better?  If good ol’ Leslie Knope was getting… poked…

Luckily the brilliant minds of the porno industry are one step ahead of you- Enter Porks And Recreation, a classic satire with all the traditional fixings.

Sex. I mean sex. (See promo below.)

4) Twitter Has Gone All White Girl Wasted.

Our dear, sweet, former Nickelodeon, She’s The Man, starlet, Amanda Bynes is crashing and burning while all the while live tweeting the wreckage.

First, she tweets these bizarre half nakey pictures of herself in the bathroom of her local gas station. (I don’t KNOW where she’s taking the picture, but look at the florescent lights and white tile. The only thing its missing is the vending machine condom dispenser and you’d KNOW she was around the corner at Speedway.)

Next, she starts tweeting pictures of, what I assume, are her undies. Except, by my calculations, she seems to be wearing two pair… Which leaves me confused… Did you put on the first pair, forget, put on a second pair and then think- oh what the hell. I can’t be bothered to take one off- MY FANS NEED ME. (And by “my fans” I mean whatever she is snorting, drinking, smoking, taking. Because this has gotten weird…)

Lastly, in the saga that is our favorite addict, Jenny McCarthy reported to some news outlet that she saw police at Bynes’ house, which doesn’t seem unreasonable at this point, right? Well The Amanda Show turned human meltdown gets all… yelly.

It feels icky.

5) Rebel Wilson and Jimmy Fallon Get Freaky in The BEST Way.

Velvety Pouch.

Have a great week ya’ll.

Photo credit: Jasmin Snyder

Domi Style Furniture Resale

Located in Fountain Square (just southeast of downtown), Domi Style is, like its name says, a furniture resale shop. A combination of mid-century and more current (read: 80’s-90’s) furniture, this shop has a large and reasonably priced selection to choose from. Though you might be able to find a cheaper dining set at Goodwill or a yard sale, the nice thing about this shop is that there are ten-fifteen to choose from in one place, which can shorten your search time. I liked the combination of uniquely retro items and the more tradition pieces. This shop is open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.

Good News Ministries Thrift Shop 

Okay, so it’s not technically downtown, but there’s no harm in expanding my parameters. This thrift shop is located on the near east side at Washington St. and Rural Ave., and is a serious hole-in-the-wall, in a good way. This shop can’t be more than 900 square feet, but they know how to really pack them in. I found an awesome old bar cart for $15; however, I had to look really hard to see it because it was so overloaded with stuff. The point is, this little shop won’t take you but 10 minutes to walk through and you may find something cool for a really low price and in my book that’s a win.

Photo credit: Jasmin Snyder

Midland Arts and Antiques

It is very likely that you’ve driven by Midland hundreds of times and never even noticed it. Located in a very large and abandoned looking warehouse right off of I-65 and Michigan Ave., this shop is spectacular. Unfortunately, nearly everything in this store is pretty expensive, but it’s such enjoyable eye candy it’s worth the trip. Think of it like going to a museum or walking through an inspiring home décor magazine. Give yourself plenty of time, soak it all in, and then go find similar items at cheaper places. Midland’s wares are highly cultivated which explains why the prices are high, so use this to your advantage. Maybe you can’t afford a $875 salvaged industrial shoe rack, but now you know that it is what your heart desires and you can go look for it somewhere else in your budget. Midland is open Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12p-5p.

Photo credit: Jasmin Snyder

Minx Vintage and Home 

Minx is a little shop located near 16^th and Pennsylvania. Though the name suggests home goods, this shop is all vintage clothing. The shop itself is very tiny, but the clothes are all in good condition and are decently priced.  Looking for a fun vintage dress for a party or a unique winter coat? Then this place is for you. Minx is open Tuesday through Friday 11am-6pm and Saturday from 12pm-5pm.

Salvation Army Family Store

I’ve attempted to not list chains like Goodwill and Salvation Army up until now, but I really like this Salvation Army store so it made the cut. Located on East Washington St. just before I-70, the Salvation Army Family Store is a very traditional thrift shop, meaning there is a large selection at really low prices. You’re likely to find something here just because of sheer odds. Did you just move into an apartment and realize that you don’t have any dishes to eat off of? Then this is the place for you. You may even be able to find a coffee table or wall hanging that isn’t too bad either.

Happy thrifting!

Related articles:

Thrift Shops: Eastside
Thrift Shops: North Side

Stay tuned for Jasmin’s next installment of her Thrift Shop Series.  To read more about Jasmin’s adventures, check out her blog, My Little House Design.

Originally from Greenfield, IN, this classically trained pianist started writing music in middle school before releasing her first album as a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School.  She calls this her “sad girl music,” a collection of angsty teen songs.  For two years Trotta booked gigs around the Broad Ripple area while writing songs that she would later recorded in the downtown Indy recording studio, the Lodge.

“Indy is a great place for musicians to get going, but I felt I had hit a wall. I was a relatively big fish in a small pond,” she said.

Trotta set her sights on Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where she majored in songwriting. “I quickly realized I was very small fish in a very big pond.” After graduating, Trotta moved to Austin, where things didn’t exactly turn out the way she planned. “People weren’t doing very much with their music there.” However, Trotta did become a member of Austin Songwriting Group, a weekly meeting of local Austin musicians interested in improving their songwriting craft. Through the song-writing group Trotta made connections in Nashville.

In January of 2012, Trotta packed up her things and moved to Nashville where she now resides working as a free-lance musician. Without a label or a publisher willing to advance her funds to produce a full-length album Trotta started a Kick Start campaign. The effort eventually raised over $7,800, which covered studio time, a full band, and digital mastering. The album is a strong, full-length debut that reflects the struggles and uncertainties of being a twentysomething.

Katie Trotta | Photo by Jordan Rowe | click photo to see more

The album’s sound is drastically different from Trotta’s previous productions, which were strictly vocal and piano driven projects. While the album features a full band sound, Trotta still describes her music as piano pop — a risk she is glad she took. The strong lyrics paired with the easygoing instrumentals create a wonderful listening experience for all ages.

Stand out tracks from the album include: “Boston,” “Six Years Old,” “Twenty Something,” (which is available exclusively as a free download for TwentySomething readers) “With You,” and finally Trotta’s favorite track “Change.” “Change” is a track she never intended anyone else to hear and portrays her emotions when moving to Nashville.

The future looks bright for Trotta as she moves forward with the promotion of “Twenty Something.”
She recently struck a deal with Tinderbox Music, which specializes in the promotion of unsigned or Indie music radio airplay. Soon the entire album will be available for college radio stations around the country, which hopefully will garner the fan base Trotta’s talent deserves.

“Twenty Something” is now available for purchase, along with the rest of Trotta’s recordings, on iTunes.

Follow this link for your free download of “Twenty Something” by Katie Trotta!

For more about Katie Trotta and her music check out her website: katietrotta.com

1. You’ve made a great decision in choosing Indy as your new home. Great job, you’re not an idiot!
2. I’ve created this little blog series just for you, dear friend.

So first things first: Memorize (or, you know, just read) the three things Indy newbies should know.

Now let’s talk about making friends.

If you’re like me, you’ve had pretty much the same group of friends since birth. I grew up in a town of only 1,400 people (nope, I didn’t leave off any zeroes) — so the people I graduated high school with are the same ones I ate Elmer’s glue and pretended to be witches in the girl’s bathroom (true story) with in Pre-kindergarten. So when college and (gasp) the real world came around, I had to figure out how to make new friends.

If you’ve never gone out on your own before or are starting over soon, there are a good number of things you should know.

But these are the (my) top four:

1. Eat and drink (and, yes, be merry).

Remember those neighborhoods I told you about, the ones where the cool kids live? Those are also the places the cool kids hang out and, generally, eat and drink.

Not to be a total suburb basher (read: I’m totally bashing all suburbs), but the outlying areas of Indy are pretty much riddled with chain restaurants. So if Applebee’s on a Friday night is your idea of a good time, by all means — go. I’ll judge the hell out of you, but hey, it’s your weekend.

Flickr via Seegull Media

Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Mass Ave and downtown have been arming themselves with amazing restaurants and bars — the kinds of places you’ll want to try out as soon as you’re in city limits. I suggest starting out with Ralston’s, Black Market or Ball and Biscuit on Mass Ave; Libertine, Tin Roof or Nicky Blaine’s downtown; White Rabbit Cabaret, New Day Meadery or Red Lion Grog House in Fountain Square; and 1001, Flatwater, Usual Suspects or Corner Wine Bar in Broad Ripple.

I’m not telling you to be an alcoholic, but if you want to meet new friends, you have to, you know, be sociable. And if asking strangers if you can drink with them on a weekday isn’t your bag, it’s never hard to find a bar crawl.

2. Run.

Indy people can’t sit still for very long, so in order to make friends, you’ll have to keep up with them.

Training for races, whether a 5k or a marathon, puts you with very like-minded people. Ask an acquaintance to go to the Y or jump on the Monon with you, and you’re on your way to a solid (and healthy!) friendship.

Photo credit: Flickr via Eric Fischer

Running isn’t your thing? We’re also big on yoga, zumba, crossfit, cycling and team community sports. Try out some classes, join a team and keep moving.

3. Volunteer.

As much as we like to be active, Indianapolisians* like to show how much we care – and trust me, we care a lot. Indy is full of nonprofits and charities always looking for an extra set of hands. So jump at the chance to help out.

For nonprofits actively seeking volunteers, check out sites like volunteermatch.org. Hey, there’s a reason it’s called Hoosier Hospitality.

4. Tweet.

Still think Twitter’s just a fad? Neon jelly sandals were just a fad, but you wore them anyway, didn’t you?

That’s what I thought.

If you aren’t already on Twitter, sign up. If you are but don’t do much with it, change that. Find people and companies in Indianapolis, and (un-creepily) interact with us online.

But don’t let it stop there.

Twitter’s a great place for getting info on the latest events, from magazine launches to networking opportunities. Stay in the know online, then take it offline (as in, do things in real life). We’ve all been through the awkward “I’ve never met you, but I follow you on Twitter…” introduction, so just accept it’s going to happen.

You already know you’re going to love it here, now go out and find some friends to spend your time with. You won’t regret it.

*Technical term.

As I worried about this year’s gift, I got to thinking: my boyfriend (we can him “E”) is just into so. many. different. things. He enjoys fishing, golfing, photography, go-karting, race cars, cooking, reading, exercising, and has so many other interests and talents beyond that. Even with all of these hobbies, there is one that stands out above the rest, and that is craft beer. He absolutely loves craft beer!  He has been collecting bottle caps from the cool and unique beers that he’s had the chance to try, and he’s been keeping them in a large beer stein he found at Goodwill a couple of years ago.  He probably has over 200 caps from various breweries and beers he has sampled. So in my panicked gift-giving form, I set my mind on creating something cool and meaningful for him using those caps.

The first thing I had to do was talk E out of his extensive beer cap collection. This step proved to be tougher than I thought it would be. He wanted to know what exactly I was going to do with them.  I told him I really didn’t know yet, but I knew it would be neat. He was only slightly skeptical. Once I had the caps, things were pretty straightforward.

I scoured Pinterest for bottle cap crafts and found a ton of cool ideas: I saw everything from coasters to coffee tables to wind chimes, all made with beer caps. After a few more days of mulling over the newfound Pinterest inspirations, it came to me! I decided that a monogram “B” (for his last name) made out of his beer caps displayed in a shadowbox would be the perfect gift.

I searched online and the cheapest shadowbox I could find I found at Joann fabric. It was 16 inches by 20 inches.  It was quite large, but I used my 50% off coupon, making it much more affordable! After bringing the bad boy home, I covered the stark white Styrofoam backing with some off white/cream fabric to provide a little bit of texture and color to lay the caps on. Next, I laid out the beer caps in dozens of different designs on my floor before I fully committed to my favorite “B” layout.  I took pictures of each design so I could go back and assess each one.

Some of the Pinterest posts and tutorials suggested filling the entire back of the cap with hot glue to make them easier to glue on to the back, but I opted to carefully apply hot glue to the edges, and they seem to have held up well, and I saved lots of extra hot glue.

So, to sum up this manly craft, you will need:

1. Shadow box
2. Fabric to cover the stark white Styrofoam back
3. Beer caps (I used about 100 caps for the 16 by 20 inch shadow box)
4. Hot glue gun to secure the fabric and the caps

Thankfully, E loved the “B,” and it is now proudly displayed in his kitchen with his collection of growlers.

Photo credit: Marcy Lendaro

Good luck with your crafting and gifting endeavors!

Read on to hear about the terrible career advice she was given that ended up working for her…

So, Alyssa, what is your current day job?

Director of Advancement, Indy Reads since November 2012. I’m focused on fundraising and communications.

What did your career path look like to this job?

I had been volunteering for Indy Reads for almost two years. First, as a tutor in the Marion County Jail, and then on the Indy Reads Books Operations Committee.

What was college like for you?

IU undergrad: Gender Studies and Cultural Anthropology (aka Super Useful).
AmeriCorps: Horizon House, Peace Learning Center
IU Grad: Masters in Philanthropic Studies and a Masters in Public Affairs.

Why you choose to live and work in Indy…

It’s the best city in America! It’s a big city and a small town, all at once.

What keeps you busy outside of work, professionally and personally?

Giving Sum, Board of Directors and Ladies of Leisure, the coolest book club you’ll ever hear about.

The best career advice you have ever received…

I received crap career advice; therefore, I really like to give it: Volunteer often, seek mentors, your undergraduate degree doesn’t matter (so long as you have one), intern as much as possible, explore things you think you would hate. Make a list of all the things that you KNOW you don’t want to be when you grow up: it’ll make you feel a lot better.

What would you recommend to someone looking for a job at a nonprofit?

Volunteer and network.

What is your exercise routine?

Leisurely bike rides and watching reality TV on the Bike Hub treadmills. Yoga at the Y.

Your morning routine?

Roll out of bed and go. My hair is short for a reason.

Fill in the blank:

A big career achievement for me was… landing this gig at Indy Reads

One of my favorite nonprofits is… Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and Southeast Community Center

A blog I love is… I’ve never read a blog. Not really. I don’t know how to find them.

My favorite app is… NPR News

An embarrassing moment was… I’ve had so many. I’ve given up feeling embarrassed.

Right now I am wearing… A really great Goodwill find.

Right now I am drinking… Hot chocolate and coffee, mixed together

If I could do anything over in college, it would be… Develop relationships with faculty.

One of my biggest pet peeves is… “Male” and “Female” are adjectives. “Man” and “Woman” are nouns. Female doctors are awesome. Woman doctors do not exist, except occasionally as OBs. Males are not pigs, but men can be. Most dictionaries disagree, but I have a degree in gender studies, so there.

On my bucket list is to…Visit Dubai.

Something about me today that I never would have believed if you told me ten years
ago…that I would trust people over 30.

My favorite stores… Goodwill, IKEA, and Target.